Show Social Security Recipients Alerted to Rent l ent Watch match Internal Revenue Service investigators in investigators investigators in- in are checking rents in Utah lJ buildings in a national Rent Watch to prevent landlords landlords landlords land land- lords from boosting rents to take advantage of tenants' tenants increased In Increased in- in increased creased Social Security pay pay- ments This month 28 million Social So Social Social So- So cial Security recipients will re- re re receive a 20 percent increase in their payments Roland Wise IRS district director said Weare We Ve Weare are urging landlords not to raise rents unless the they are arec c cc tamp tain such Increases are legal lecal In many cases landlords landlords landlords land land- lords have already raised rents this year and must wait walt until 12 months have elapsed since that increase before raising raisins rents again Mr Wise said Landlords must not raise rents beyond a maximum 25 percent a year increase plus prorated of increased In Increased increased in- in creased taxes municipal fees and services and capital im im- im Tenants also should receive a detailed 30 day notice The Cost of Living Council has given the IRS new administrative administrative administrative admin admin- sanction powers to protect tenants from Illegal rent increases Now the IRS can order landlords violating regulations regulations regulations regu regu- lations to restore overpayments to tenants roll back rents to tole le legal l limits and impose panal- panal ties of double the overcharged rent The Revenue Service will refer re refer refer re- re fer to the Justice Department for prosecution cas cases e s of flagrant and willful violation of rent rules the district di director director dl- dl rector said Roland V V. V Wise urged tenants to report rent Increases which they consider Illegal The IRS ms gives priority handling to rent complaints from Social Security Security Security ity recipients To insure their complaints receive handling priority citizens citizens citizens citi citi- zens should identify themselves as Social Security recipients when they contact us especially by telephone hone or letter Mr Wise ise said All residential rental units under controls are covered by Rent Watch This generally In Includes includes includes in- in all units owned by landlords landlords landlords land land- lords with an interest in more than four units Excluded are landlords with less than four units and housing controlled d bythe by bythe bythe the Federal state and local governments IRS offices have copies of or Form S 38 which shows the detailed Information landlords must supply in notifying tenants of proposed Increases Use of the form however does not mean the IRS has approved a rent increase If It the landlord does not give the tenant proper notice any in increase increase increase in- in crease even one justifiable un under under un- un der the rules is illegal Mr Ir Wise said Landlords who evict or harassed or receive eviction notices after complaining about a rent increase should contact their IRS office continued to pay rent and keep records of payments ht to be excessive ex excessive excessive ex- ex Mr Ir Wise said Current Information on the Economic Stabilization regulations regulations regulations regula regula- is available at all local offices of the Internal Revenue Service For those who wish to telephone for stabilization or tax information the telephone number in Metropolitan Salt Lake City is Outside Outside Out Out- Outside side of this area a toll free call can be made by using the phone number |